Gorges de l'Ardèche - Les gorge de l'Ardèche - escalade/ kayak/ randonnée

A succession of gorgeous landscape, high limestone cliffs and green oak forest cercle this charming piece of preserved nature. The clear and warm water invates you for a good swim. Even if the first miles are realy stuck with lot of people, but worry, the gorges are 40KM (24 miles) long, so you will find your own peacefull place.

The gorges can be discovered by foot, but the kayak is the fastest and more conforteble way to enjoy your day. You can rent your canoe or kayak in Vallon-Pont d’Arc for 1 or 2 days. Be aware that if you want to sleep during your stay in the gorges, you must book online your campsite (carefull, limited places avaliable). Just for reminder, wild campment are forbiden out of the official campsites.

Hiking Itinary :

From Vallon Pont d’Arc, follow the « GR 4F » to Charmes, then take the path down the Gorges de l’Ardèche to you reach St Martin d’Ardèche. Can take 2 or 3 days. Depending of the season, crossing the river is possible in certain circumstances. Fording : Fording should occur under low flow conditions and not when flows are elevated due to local rain events or seasonal flooding. Notice that during summer, it is usualy always praticable, but be carefull if it has rained few days before, the river level is affected by previous rain.

Possible alternatives (using public transport depending the season) :

*During low season (if watercourse fording is risky, better stay on the same river bank) :

Day 1 : Vallon Pont d’Arc->Salavas->(Les Egaux)->Canyon Le Rieussec->Combe de Virac->Virac->(Bois de Saleyron)->La Bastide de Virac->Les Crottes trough the GR4->Combes des Champs-> Arrived in the Gorges->Sentier des Gorges to Gué du Guitard. Night in campsite (Camping 1000 étoiles at Rocher des Abeillères) or outside the park.

Day 2 : Follow the Sentier des Gorges->La Maladrerie des Templiers (Open view on the Cirque de la Madeleine)->You exit the Gorges->Le Chambon->Dolmen->(Rochers de Castelviel)->Aigueze by GR4->St Martin d’Ardèche

*During High season / low river level :

Vallon Pont d’Arc->St Martin d’Ardèche :

Day 1 GR4F->Chames->Down in the Gorges to the left bank-> then to the right bank by Charmassonet fording. ->Change for left bank at Gué de Guitard Stay the night in Gournier campment

Day 2 : Folow the Sentier des Gorges on the left bank to St Martin d’Ardèche OR Folow the Sentier des Gorges on the right bank to La Maladrerie des Templiers and then change to left bank. (Possible only if the river level is low)

Kayak Itinary :

Folow Ardèche river ! (Better make enquires on the river situation before ) They are plenti of kayaks/canoes rental agency in Vallon Pont d’Arc. If need be, the retourn to Vallon Pont d’Arc after the descente is usualy garenteed by the rental agency that take you and your kayak/canoe back to the starting place. You may ask the rental agency if you can let them some of your stuff/belongings that you can have back at the end.